Security and Anti-Virus

[Mikeph514]

If I view souce on a spam email which may contain malware, etc., is that as danegerous as opening the email itself?

[cjortega]

Usually viewing the source of an email makes use of a text editor, which doesn't have the ability to execute any code in the message.

So, it is usually OK to do a view source.

[Mikeph514]

Thanks Claude, makes me feel a lot safer. I like to see the sender IP address and post them to internet opions restricted sites if necessary to stop malware spam; especially from Eastern Europe. Take care.

Mikeph514.

[LoPhatPhuud]

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Mikeph514 wrote:

Thanks Claude, makes me feel a lot safer. I like to see the sender IP address and post them to internet opions restricted sites if necessary to stop malware spam; especially from Eastern Europe. Take care.

Mikeph514.

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You do not need to open source to get the IP address. Just check the headers.

[Mikeph514]

Thanks LoPhatPhuud but I do not know how to view the headers without opening view source to get them unless I open the email itself. Will you please explain how I can do this? Thanks!

Mikeph514

[LoPhatPhuud]

If you are using the Xfinity webmail program, there is no other way I am aware of, to view the headers, other than view source. As long as all you do is look, and don't "touch" there shoudl be no problems.

If you are using an email client, such as Outlook, searching 'Help' should give you the information on viewing the headers.

[Mikeph514]

OK, Thanks, I misunderstood you to indicate there was another way.

Here's a question for you from my curiosity: Most spam I receive contains a long list of words seemingly unrelated to anything at all. Sometimes there are a few lists. I have seen this also on some xfinity email.

What is that about?

Mikeph514 

[LoPhatPhuud]

That's just the spam's attempt to bypass ISP spam filters. Strings of unrelated, but valid words

[Mikeph514]

Thanks, that was easy enough. Take care!